Deployment of the eCall in-vehicle system (A8-0053/2015 - Olga Sehnalová)
Marian Harkin (ALDE).– Mr President, I supported the ALDE amendment on the eCall in-vehicle system. I think this is an example of where we try to balance individual rights with societal benefits, where we protect individual data but recognise how data-sharing can, in the case of the eCall system, save lives, reduce the seriousness of injury, facilitate the work of rescuers and fire-fighters, and indeed save money. But in this context I support the amendment which requested that manufacturers ensure that eCall users can easily deactivate the eCall system manually in cars. This, I believe, will help to ensure a balance between the right to privacy and the possibility to save lives or reduce injury.
I do recognise that certain safeguards have been put in place. For example, there can be no tracking of any call-equipped vehicle before an accident occurs; in the internal memory of the system, data are automatically and continuously removed; and data-gathering by emergency centres must not be transferred to third parties without explicit consent. I am pleased that the ALDE Group played an important role in ensuring these protections.